Political Science and Liberal Arts Education in Kansas

If you would like to study the role of government in a society, political science is the major of choice for you. A political science degree in Kansas can lead to many lucrative careers in government, the private sector, nonprofit and much more. In addition to courses in government, public policy, and international relations, interdisciplinary coursework may be available, depending upon the Kansas college or university you choose. These courses may be in women's studies, African studies, pre-law, international studies, ethnic studies, security studies, geriatric studies, public administration, community service, internships, and even semesters abroad.

Graduate studies may be right for you if you would like to advance in your political science career. Some federal government agencies, especially those requiring candidates to have security clearance, prefer to hire graduate degree holders. Private companies that provide public services under government contracts also often employ graduate degree holders over undergraduate degree holders. Kansas has a wide variety of choices of college and university programs in graduate political science as well for students who choose to further their education after undergraduate school is completed.

Political Science Careers in Kansas

The Kansas Department of Labor predicts that between 2006 and 2016, government jobs in the state will rise by 6.6 percent. The largest increase will be in local government jobs, which are expected to rise by 10.9 percent during that decade. The Kansas City area will experience an increase of 21.6 percent in local government opportunities, while North Central Kansas' local government jobs will increase by 7.8 percent. Northeast Kansas' local government positions should increase by 5.9 percent, and Southeast Kansas' local government jobs should grow by 8.6 percent. Southwest Kansas will see a growth in local government jobs of 5.3 percent. South Central Kansas' local government jobs should grow by 14.1 percent. South Central Kansas will also experience growth in the number of state government jobs (which are expected to grow by 13.6 percent), and Southwest Kansas' state government jobs should increase by 21.3 percent.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that in Kansas, employment in local government is growing faster than state government employment. From 2003 to 2008, employment in state government increased 3.5 percent, while local government employment increased 6.9 percent. There are 2084 governments (county, municipal and township) in Kansas, says the U.S Census Bureau. Some of these governments may be quite small and serve few residents. This, however, explains the rise in the number of local government jobs in Kansas, which has 1332 residents for every general-purpose government in the state. That average is about six times the national average.

How to Become a Politician in Kansas

A current candidate for Kansas State Representative, Sean Tevis, has created a cartoon that documents what is involved in a run for state office. He shows how easy it is for any concerned citizen to run for office in the state. First, you must obtain a petition with 151 signatures of voters in your district. He shows that the best way to do this is by going door to door, telling the voters what you stand for and your political beliefs. After gaining the signatures and filing to run for office, he says, it's time to develop your political campaign. He notes that this involves getting your name out in the public, so that the voters know who you are. He quotes statistics from the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press that state only 69 percent of Americans know the Vice President's name and only 37 percent know their state governor's name.

To get your name in the public, he suggests creating brochures, buttons, t-shirts, bumper stickers and more marketing tools. The candidate with the most money for advertising most often wins, he notes. Raising money for a political campaign can be done door to door or via the Internet. Remember, however, the most that a person can donate per cycle, under campaign finance laws, is $500. Offering "perks" to those who donate, like t-shirts or other promotional items, can help in soliciting donations and in further getting your name in voters' minds.